Margaret Qualley
Margaret Qualley transformed from a dedicated ballet dancer into a magnetic screen actress known for her raw and nuanced performances.
Born 1994 (age 32)·American actress·Birthday: October 23·Millennials
Biography
Margaret Qualley's artistic discipline was forged in the dance studio long before she ever faced a camera. The daughter of model-actress Andie MacDowell, she trained seriously in ballet at the North Carolina School of the Arts and the American Ballet Theatre, a path that instilled a profound physical expressiveness. She pivoted to acting in her late teens, with a small but noticeable debut in Sofia Coppola's *The Bling Ring*. Her breakthrough came as the resilient Jill Garvey on HBO's existential drama *The Leftovers*, where she held her own against veteran actors. Qualley chooses roles that demand transformation, from a Manson Family victim in *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood* to the beleaguered Alex in the Netflix adaptation of *Maid*, a performance that earned her Emmy and Golden Globe nominations and proved her ability to anchor a story with gritty, emotional truth.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Margaret was born in 1994, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Margaret Was Born
The biggest hits of 1994
#1 Movie
The Lion King
Best Picture
Forrest Gump
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Margaret's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1994Born
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1999Started school
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2007Became a teenager
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Could drive
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2012Could vote
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Turned 21
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2024Turned 30
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 32 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress for her role in the Netflix limited series *Maid*.
- Earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Limited Series for her performance in *Maid*.
- Played a supporting role in Quentin Tarantino's acclaimed film *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood*.
- Starred as Ann Reinking in the FX limited series *Fosse/Verdon*, showcasing her dance background.
Did You Know?
She is named after her paternal grandmother, Sarah Margaret Qualley.
She turned down a scholarship to study ballet at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts to pursue acting.
Qualley performed her own dancing in the *Fosse/Verdon* series, having the technical background to do so.
“Ballet taught me to be present in my body, to communicate without words.”
